The hospital where the first NHS baby was delivered in 1948 has had a surprise new arrival on an historic day.

Once a busy maternity centre, Amman Valley Hospital has barely echoed to the cry of a newborn for many years.

But young mum-to-be Bethan Williams changed all that when she popped into the community hospital’s clinic for a check-up.

Bethan, 21, whose baby was not due for nearly three weeks, hadn't been well over the weekend with what she thought was a tummy bug.

She was due to have an appointment with her community midwife Claire Itzstein at 11am on Monday September 19 – the day of Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral - but asked for it to be earlier as she felt so unwell, with pains in her stomach.

It was just as well she did.

“It turned out that my pains were contractions, so Claire went ahead and did an examination, and it turned out that this baby was coming,” said Bethan.

This was at 10.20am, and at 10.33am, baby Marcus was born.

“All of the nurses came running from all over the hospital to see the baby,” said Bethan, who lives in Ammanford with her partner Nick Jones, 21 and their 16-month-old daughter Mila.

“They said they’d had a baby born there in the pandemic, but otherwise it was years before then,  when the hospital had a maternity ward.”

South Wales Guardian: Baby Marcus was born in the same hospital as his granddad. Baby Marcus was born in the same hospital as his granddad. (Image: Bethan Williams)

The shock was shared by Bethan’s dad, Stephen Williams, 53, from Brynamman, who actually had been born at the same hospital, and who was there holding his daughter’ hand as she delivered Marcus.

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“My dad and I are very close and do lots of things together – he was a bit traumatised but said afterwards it was the best experience we've shared,” said Bethan.

“I can’t wait to tell Marcus about how he was born and the fact that he arrived in the world as the Queen was being laid to rest.”

South Wales Guardian: Midwife Claire, mum Bethan and baby Marcus are pictured in the ambulance on the way to hospital.Midwife Claire, mum Bethan and baby Marcus are pictured in the ambulance on the way to hospital. (Image: Amman Valley Hospital)

An ambulance – called by the clinic midwives on a Code Red – arrived to take Bethan and Marcus, weighing in at a healthy 6lb 10 oz, to Glangwili Hospital where they stayed overnight before being discharged.

Bethan was full of praise for her midwife Claire who helped her to such a safe delivery.

“Although unplanned, everything went smoothly, and mother and baby are doing really well.” said Claire.

Hywel Dda UHN Health Board have also added their congratulations to the new mum and her midwife.